ABSTRACT
Positron emission tomography (PET) has progressed over the last 15 years from a research tool to a routine clinical investigation. It is now available in many centers, and some knowledge of its technique and applications is important for physicians who deal with diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Current clinical applications of PET relate mostly to the management of patients with malignant disease, and this chapter will discuss GI cancer applications of PET in detail. Although much evidence has been produced to support the use of PET inGImalignancies, important questions still remain regarding its exact role, and these will also be explored. In addition to its use in oncology, PET may also be used to assess bowel in£ammation. The advantages and disadvantages of the technique for this application will be discussed. The chapter will begin with a brief description of the physical and biological principles that underlie the use of PET, and throughout the chapter the relative and complementary roles of PET and ‘‘traditional’’ anatomical imaging will be emphasized.
